LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville freshman thrower Khadija Abdullah is set to compete against the country’s elite 19-and under athletes in the shot put at the 2009 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday, at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
The shot put competition will commence at noon PT on the campus of the University of Oregon, with Abdullah vying for a spot to the 2009 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships.
The top two athletes per individual event qualify for the USATF Pan American Junior Championships Team. In addition, USATF will select up to two additional athletes for each relay team/pool based on competitive standards. Abdullah enters the event as the No. 2 ranked junior shot putter in the United States.
"This is probably the most stacked women’s shot put competition at the junior level as I have ever seen," said U of L assistant coach Dale Cowper. "The competition should be fierce and I am looking forward to seeing what comes out of it."
Abdullah ended her freshman collegiate campaign at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a 20th place finish in the shot put. She earned her first national championship appearance via an at-large bid.
The BIG EAST runner-up in the shot put finished ninth at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships and had a personal best throw of 52-02 (15.90m) at the Texas Relays to win the event.
The 2009 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships will be held on July 31 and Aug. 1-2 at Hasley Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
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